THE biggest crackdown on school bullies will be launched across Merseyside.

It will see every school in the area being assigned a police officer who will work to tackle bullying.

The officers will set up meetings to bring together offenders and victims.

The plan to involve police officers is aimed to show bullies the serious consequences of their actions.

Merseyside police stress that bullying is not the only role for the officers in schools.

They plan to put on events for children outside of classroom hours with things such as football matches and discos. Other problems such as vandalism will also be tackled.

Assistant chief constable Ian McPherson said: "The benefits of having officers in schools are immense. This is not a gimmick but a long-lasting, long-term initiative to break down barriers and build up trust between kids and police officers."

There are five police constables working with schools in north Liverpool, south Liverpool and Knowsley. Wirral is shortly to join the scheme.

The pilot Robbie the Bobbie scheme was launched in the Norris Green area and that success has led to the expansion plan.

Anthony Hegarty, Merseyside secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said his members would suppor t the bul lying crackdown.

"Anything that will help to address these problems is welcome and this sort of remedy is one that many schools already operate."

We expected Whitney to be safe at school >>>>

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We expected Whitney to be safe at school>

THE parents of a schoolgirl who took an overdose of pills because she was being bullied at school say no one should have to endure what they have been through.

Whitney Griffiths, 12, took dozens of pain killing pills after suffering months of bullying at her school.

She took the overdose on Tuesday, was admitted to Arrowe Park hospital the next day and detained over-night.

Her parents, Simone Griffiths, 31, and Paul Fitzpatrick, 49, have been told it was a cry for help.

Simone said: "The psychologist said Whitney did not want to kill herself, she just wanted the bullying to stop."

Police are investigating an incident in February when Whitney was allegedly punched and kicked.

Whitney's father, a civil servant, fears there may be a racist element to the bullying - Simone is of West Indian origin. The family have been targeted in the past.

He added: "We are moderately minded people, but we have expectations and we expect our daughter to be safe at school."